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Ten years before and after
In 2005, he represented North Carolina and won the NCAA championship. In 2014, Marvin Williams returned to North Carolina to attend the graduation ceremony. The decade symbolizes persistence, hard work, and the end of each hot summer’s journey in Chapel Hill.
"I know it's going to be a long journey. But the closer I get to graduation, the more excited I get. I'm looking forward to finishing my college studies."
After dropping out of school in his freshman year, he joined the Hawks as the second overall pick and became a highly paid professional player. Completing his degree at the "African-American" University of North Carolina is still the primary goal of Marvin Williams' persistence.
He grew up in Bremerton, a suburb of Seattle, and played for Atlanta and Utah. Since entering the league, Marvin has returned to North Carolina to take classes every off-season. It took Williams a full 10 years to obtain a solid degree and complete challenges in different areas of life.
the most important little things
2004 was the last year for high school players to jump to the NBA. JR Smith, who was also a McDonald's All-American high school star player, chose to give up recruiting from North Carolina and enter the draft. Williams chose a different path, and this choice continued to influence him until 2014, until he completed the journey of his life.
While his teammates and peers were enjoying the sun and beaches on tropical islands and tasting fine wines in European towns, Williams chose to put on his schoolbag and walk into class. Hours of classes, literature reading, exam preparation, and regular training, this kind of summer vacation lasted ten years for Williams, and he enjoyed it.
"After I left in my freshman year, I continued to stay in school. I would come back every summer. As long as I could, I would try to take two semesters of summer credit classes."
The long season of more than 82 games per year, the fatigue of training, competition and travel are no reasons to prevent him from completing his credits.
"If my team is not doing well and there is no playoff, I can complete each class more easily. But when we are in the playoffs, I can only take two or three classes." "Every class. I will continue to take courses during the summer vacation, and I will also take a few online courses during the football season.
"Ten years have passed and I finally graduated!"
North Carolina finally returns to North Carolina after ten years of hard times
Atlanta, Salt Lake City, in the tenth year of his career, Williams finally joined the North Carolina team and joined the Hornets on a two-year, $14 million contract. His press conference was delayed for several hours because "the class was not over yet."
"Education is very important to me and my family. I also promised Coach (Roy) Williams that I would finish school. My parents always taught me to be a man of my word, so I did that."
He has earned 55 million US dollars in his career so far. An African-American degree will not be the economic core to support his life in the future, but this educational journey that took a wonderful summer from the age of 19 to 28 has another level for Williams. Significance.
When people question the "early dropout" system, Williams is the best example. He told all players that as long as you are willing, you can participate in highly competitive professional leagues at the same time, while improving your thinking ability and increasing your wisdom and quality.
"Looking at his performance on both offense and defense, every move is logical." –
Hornets head coach Steve Clifford decided to put Williams in the starting position during the first team practice.
Life in North Carolina
Although they have only been on the same team for one year, the emotions of this championship team are already connected to the campus.
"I have a very close relationship with Raymond (Felton), Sean (May) and Deon Thompson. We talk every day."
"Every summer, we would live in the same place. I would get up at seven o'clock in the morning to train, and they would constantly motivate me and make sure I went to class and completed my homework."
"I owe them a big thank you."
Ten years of studying have also made Marvin closer to the campus.
"Having a senior can have a positive effect in the classroom, and Marvin is even more special in the sports management course. He can talk freely about sports economics, financial management, team management, and can provide information on athlete marketing, athlete management, and even career decisions for college athletes. First-hand insider experience.”
"These things are priceless."
For individuals, schools, teams and even leagues, Marvin Williams' player experience, academic research and study hardships are all worth sharing.
The pursuit of excellence is success
"Basketball is not everything in life." Although he finally entered the draft after graduating from college for four years, North Carolina's Tyler Zeller also promised his mother early that he would complete his studies even if he entered the profession early. "If you have a good opportunity to enter the next level early, you should take it. But then you have to find a way to get back to school."
Many readers should have seen it Oakjames This good article "Talking about student athletes from the Jarrett Jack graduation incident》, this sentence is really worthy of being posted on the wall of the room and warning ourselves all the time.
"Success in life is not about how high we reach, but about transcending ourselves and growing up."
As rival coach Duke K said, "Hunger not for success, but for excellence."
Challenge yourself and pursue excellence.
The label of success will naturally be labeled on you.
